WHO: 7-5 Arizona (Pac-12) vs.7-5 Boston College (ACC)
WHAT: Advocare V100 Bowl (38th year)
WHERE: Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louis.
WHEN: Dec. 31 at 12:30 p.m. ET
WHY: Two elite running backs will be under the spotlight in Shreveport on Tuesday afternoon.
Ka’Deem Carey of Arizona and Heisman finalist Andre Williams of Boston College will go toe-to-toe to see who’s the best back in the country. Williams gained 2,102 yards and 17 touchdowns and led the nation in rushing. Carey was right behind him with 1,716 yards and 17 touchdowns (in one less game). Both are the centerpieces of their team’s offensive attacks and both will be the focus of the other team’s defense.
Game on, gentlemen.
The Eagles were a hot team at the end of the season, winning four of its last five, while Arizona showed its mettle by thrashing Oregon by 26. No other team played Florida State as tough as BC, which lost to the Seminoles by just 14. The Wildcats lost three games by a touchdown or less. In other words, these teams are probably a little bit better than their records indicate.
As good as the running backs are, the game should turn on the play of the quarterbacks. B.J. Denker has come on strong for the Wildcats down the stretch run. He has 2,241 passing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 898 rushing yards and 12 scores. Chase Rettig has 17 touchdown passes and just six interceptions for the Eagles. This looks like a game between two evenly-matched teams with similar strengths and vastly different styles -- Arizona with its spread and BC with its pound-it-up-the-gut pro style scheme.
This game should be entertaining, if nothing else.
PREDICTION: Arizona 31, Boston College 27
